A former wardrobe designer who briefly worked on Lizzo’s tour has filed a lawsuit accusing the artist of fostering a work culture that condoned racist and fatphobic bullying. The lawsuit, filed on the same day Lizzo was expected to receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award, alleges sexual and racial harassment, assault, and the establishment of a hostile work environment, naming Lizzo, her touring company, and wardrobe manager Amanda Nomura as defendants.
According to attorney Ron Zambrano, “Lizzo is the boss so the buck stops with her. She has created a sexualized and racially charged environment on her tours that her management staff sees as condoning such behavior, and so it continues unchecked. Lizzo certainly knows what’s going on but chooses not to put an end to this disgusting and illegal conduct and participates herself.”
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Lizzo dismissed it as a publicity stunt, stating that the artist has been recognized by the Black Music Action Coalition for her charitable work and that the lawsuit deserves no attention.
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The lawsuit states that Asha Daniels, the wardrobe designer, was excited to work with Lizzo and her team based on the values the artist portrayed in public. However, Daniels claims she encountered a “culture of racism and bullying,” leading her to leave the tour after less than a month.
According to the lawsuit, Daniels designed custom pieces for Lizzo’s dancers and had Nomura as her primary contact in Lizzo’s team. Daniels’ disappointment began when Nomura informed her that she would have no direct contact with Lizzo due to the artist’s supposed jealousy, instructing her to “tone it down” and avoid dressing attractively.
Daniels also alleges that Nomura made derogatory comments about Lizzo and the Black dancers, using offensive stereotypes and insults. Despite Daniels voicing her concerns, she claims Nomura ignored her objections.
The lawsuit further details an incident where a heavy rack of clothing rolled over Daniels’ foot, causing her pain. Allegedly, Nomura shoved her into the rack and dismissed her complaints. Daniels also accuses Nomura of making threats and behaving aggressively towards other crew members.
The lawsuit claims that the tour’s stage crew, predominantly white men, created an uncomfortable environment by voyeuristically observing the dancers during their quick changes without any privacy. Nomura allegedly did not address the issue when it was brought to her attention.
Daniels hoped that her complaints about Nomura’s behavior would be conveyed to Lizzo, but she was allegedly told that replacing Nomura would be difficult. As a result, Daniels claims she was fired in retaliation for speaking up. The lawsuit also mentions that Lizzo’s management team failed to address a separate incident involving a graphic photo shared in a crew group chat.
The lawsuit comes after three former dancers accused Lizzo of weight-shaming and engaging in sexual, religious, and racial harassment. The lawsuit also reveals that Daniels felt pressured to participate in activities discussed by the management team, such as hiring sex workers and using drugs, to secure time off.
The complaint states that due to the racist and sexualized work environment, as well as the physical demands of the job, Daniels experienced anxiety, panic attacks, migraines, brain fog, fatigue, and ongoing PTSD even after leaving the tour.
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